Johnny Logan to Dana: Ireland’s history as Eurovision royalty

While Logan put Ireland on the Eurovision map, there is an abundance of past successes in the competition hailing from the emerald isles.

In 1970, Dana, otherwise known as the “original Derry girl”, was the first of Ireland’s winners.

Since then there have been six wins for Ireland, and top five entrants on 18 occasions – making it the most successful country overall.

Ireland had an extraordinary run of success in the 1990s with three consecutive wins.

In 1992 with Linda Martin’s ‘Why me’, in 1993 with Niamh Kavanagh’s ‘In Your Eyes’ and in 1994 when Paul Harrington’s ‘Rock n Roll Kids’ took gold.

Another notable Eurovision run for Ireland was led by the coiffured Dublin twins collectively known as Jedward.

Despite never securing a win in the competition, the duo went on to take the showbiz world by storm under the management of Louis Walsh.

Notable, not for his success but more for his subversive tactics, Ireland’s 2008 entry Dustin the Turkey had some viewers spitting feathers.

Dustin was received on stage with some boos, with Dana, who was a panellist at the time, saying that Ireland would be better withdrawing from the competition than sending Dustin.